 Solano with Peru in 2007 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nolberto Albino Solano Todco | ||
| Date of birth | 12 December 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Callao, Lima, Peru | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | San Marcos (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1987–1990 | Alianza Lima | ||
| 1991–1992 | Sporting Cristal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1993 | Sporting Cristal | 11 | (1) |
| 1993 | Deportivo Municipal | 27 | (7) |
| 1994–1997 | Sporting Cristal | 97 | (31) |
| 1997–1998 | Boca Juniors | 32 | (5) |
| 1998–2004 | Newcastle United | 172 | (29) |
| 2004–2005 | Aston Villa | 49 | (8) |
| 2005–2007 | Newcastle United | 58 | (8) |
| 2007–2008 | West Ham United | 23 | (4) |
| 2008 | AEL | 17 | (2) |
| 2009 | Universitario | 32 | (10) |
| 2010 | Leicester City | 13 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Hull City | 11 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Hartlepool United | 14 | (2) |
| Total | 556 | (107) | |
| International career | |||
| 1994–2009 | Peru | 95 | (20) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2012 | Universitario | ||
| 2013 | José Gálvez | ||
| 2014 | Internacional de Toronto | ||
| 2019–2020 | Peru Olympic | ||
| 2023 | AFC Eskilstuna | ||
| 2024 | Blyth Spartans | ||
| 2024– | San Marcos | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Nolberto Albino Solano Todco (born 12 December 1974), nicknamed Ñol in Peru and Nobby in England, is a retired Peruvian football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the current manager of San Marcos.
Solano spent much of his career in the Premier League, primarily with Newcastle United, and also with Aston Villa and West Ham United. He became the first Peruvian to play in the Premier League, and appear in the FA Cup final. He is considered a cult hero at the Tyneside club, and was also noted for his trumpet playing and formed his own salsa band named The Geordie Latinos.[1] He has described himself as an "adopted Geordie."[2]
Solano is a popular figure in his native Peru, where he is seen as one of the most famous Peruvians, appearing on telephone cards and having his wedding televised live.[3][4] He played 95 times for the national team between 1994 and 2009, including at the Copa América of 1995, 1999 and 2004 and the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Towards the end of his career, he went into coaching, and was first team coach at non-league side Newcastle Benfield, while contracted to Hartlepool United. He had short spells at Universitario and José Gálvez, and was manager of Internacional de Toronto for a few matches, before the club had its licensing agreement terminated. From 2015 to 2022, Solano was involved within the national team setup, as assistant manager to Ricardo Gareca and manager of the Olympic football team. In 2023, he briefly led AFC Eskilstuna in the Swedish Superettan, before another brief term as manager of Blyth Spartans in 2024.
- ^ "Solano's tune army". icNewcastle. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
- ^ Walker, Michael (10 January 2004). "Solano blows his own trumpet". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
- ^ Howey, Martin (21 May 1999). "oalano Tunes Of Glory". The Mirror (London). Retrieved 4 August 2008.
- ^ Hill, Graham (1 February 2004). "Diego made me a star – ace Solano". Sunday Mercury (Birmingham). "Solano is a hero in Peru where his face appears in TV adverts. The 29-year-old winger is such a household name there that even his wedding was televised live."